Physical stores are still where most retail sales happen thanks to shoppers’ need to test products and their desire to take immediate possession of items upon purchase, according to research firm Forrester. Through 2024, 72% of U.S. retail sales transactions will occur in physical stores, the firm reported.

Restaurant concepts get more innovative

Seven Restaurant Group will open an indoor/outdoor restaurant called Surreal at JBG Smith’s Dining in the Park at National Landing in Arlington, Virginia. Anchored by a park with mature trees, Dining in the Park, pictured above, will feature one acre of green space intended to accommodate a variety of uses customized by Seven Restaurant Group, such as herb gardens or outdoor markets. Through a new commercial lifestyle designation, patrons will be able to “sip and stroll” through the park. In addition to the main restaurant, Surreal plans to take advantage of the green space with food carts selling coffee, ice cream, beer, wine and more. Construction for Dining in the Park is expected to begin early next year, and the restaurant anticipates opening in 2023.

Meanwhile in downtown New Britain, Connecticut, a dining hall called The Assembly Room will open in a few weeks on the ground floor of a five-level historic office building whose upper floors have converted into 44 apartments. The 7,500-square-foot Assembly Room will include a bar called The Industrial, a coffee shop named Miel, a sushi spot called Nikko, a Creole barbecue restaurant and an eatery that combines the menus of three stalls of Hartford’s Parkville Market: Fowl Play, Las Tortas MX and Burrito Loko. The space also includes a pool table and a 500-square-foot rentable function room.

Why value retailer Grocery Outlet is going omnichannel

Even the most value-oriented customers expect same-day delivery these days. That’s why self-described “extreme value” supermarket chain Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. finally is going omnichannel. In a six-month pilot, daily staples from 68 California Grocery Outlets will be available for same-day delivery via Instacart. “It’s important to make our great-value products available across another platform and to a greater audience, introducing Grocery Outlet to customers who may not have shopped with us before,” said Grocery Outlet CEO Eric Lindberg. “Consumers are telling us that convenience is more important than ever, and we are listening.” Grocery Outlet has more than 400 independently owned and operated stores in California, Washington, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Idaho and Nevada.

2 apparel retailers that are expanding

Luxury athleisure brand Alo Yoga continues to stretch into new enclaves to reach wealthy consumers. The retailer, which hosts yoga classes and calls its stores sanctuaries, just opened its first Arizona location, a 6,700-square-foot unit at Scottsdale Fashion Square. Promotional events included a full moon yoga and meditation class on the top deck of the shopping center’s Dillard’s parking garage, offering a view of Camelback Mountain. Founded in 2007, the brand has 10 more stores across Southern California, New York and Texas.

Swedish menswear brand Ron Dorff will open its first U.S. store in New York City’s SoHo. The brand recently received a capital injection from sportswear brand Puma.

Tractor Supply Co. gears up for growth

Rural lifestyle retailer Tractor Supply Co. will plant itself in new markets after six consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth. Comparable store sales rose 13.1% year over year for the third quarter of 2021, after a 26.8% increase a year earlier. The sales growth reflects robust demand for everyday merchandise — including consumable, usable and edible products — according to the company, which opened 12 Tractor Supply stores and three Petsense stores during the third quarter of 2021. “Over 18 months into the pandemic, our business has never been stronger,” said president and CEO Hal Lawton. “Our growth continues to be robust. Our customer trends remain structurally sound. We are continuing to gain market share and invest in the business to capture the significant opportunities ahead of us.” The company, which has $1.1 billion in cash, plans to open 80 Tractor Supply stores and 10 Petsense stores in 2022, adding to its existing 1,967 Tractor Supply stores and 177 Petsense stores.